Can-cover.



W; P. BURNETT.

CAN COVER.

APPLICATION FILED APIB..26, 1911.

1,000,373 Patented Aug. 15,1911.

WE B urn/e17 Hum/mg 32,1, ozwcaff a M COLUMBIA PLANOflRAPl-lKID-,WASHINOTDN D C WILLIAM IE. BURNETT, OF HEISSON, WASHINGTON.

CAN-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Application filed April 26, 1911. Serial No. 623,407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BURNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Heisson, inthe county of Clarke and State of WVashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Covers, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had totheaccompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to improvements in can covers and moreparticularly to a cover for milk cans, the invention having for itsprimary object the provision of very simple means whereby the ejectionof the milk when the cover is inserted into the top of the can owing tothe displacement of air, is entirely obviated.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a device for thepurpose specified which is extremely simple and efficient inconstruction, may be manufactured at small cost and is admirably adaptedfor overcoming theundesirable feature of the present form of can coveras above noted.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view showing themovable closure plate in open position; Fig. 2 is a section taken on theline 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of themovable plate.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates a milk can of theordinary form, and 6 indicates my improved cover. This cover consists ofthe top plate 7 having an annular depending flange 8 which is adapted tofit within the upper open end of the can and closely engage thecylindrical wall thereof. The cover is further provided with anoutwardly flared circumscribing flange 9 which extends above and overthe upper edge of the can.

A plate 10 is pivotally mounted upon the upper surface of the top 7 ofthe can cover, the pivot 11 being eccentrically' disposed through saidtop plate. The plate 7 of the cover is also provided at or adjacent toits center with an opening 12 which is normally adapted to be closed bythe pivoted plate 10. This plate lies closely upon the surface of thetop plate 7 and extends to the edge thereof, the end of the pivotedplate 10 being angularly bent as indicated at 10' and also closelyengaged with the inner surface of the flared flange 9 of the cover, theeX- tremity of said plate being bent over the outer edge of said flangeas indicated at 13. The flange 9 is provided with an opening 14,

and the angular portion 10 of the pivoted plate 10 also has an opening15 therein which is adapted to register with the openmg 1 1 when theplate is in position over the air vent opening 12. These alined openingsare adapted to receive the hasp of a suitable padlock so as to retainthe pivoted plate in its closed position as shown at'18 in Fig.

2. Lugs 16 are provided upon the upwardly and outwardly flared annularflange 9 of the can to limit the pivotal movement of the I plate 10,said plate having a suitable fingerpiece 17 secured thereto by means ofwhich it may be conveniently moved.

In the practical operation of the device, when the cover is to beinserted into the top of the can, the platelO is moved to the positionshown in Fig. '1 and the vent opening 12 uncovered. The dependingannular flange 8 of the can top is then inserted into the open top ofthe can and as it is forced downwardly into the same, the air which isdisplaced escapes through the vent opening 12. It will be obvious thatwhen the can has been filled almost to the limit of its capacity, theair pressure which is caused by forcing the cover into the can willdisplace part of the contents, and as no escape is provided for thisair, the milk will be forced out of the top of the can between the rimor edge thereof and the flared flange 9 of the can cover, thereby notonly wasting the milk but also spattering the clothes of the milk man.By means of my improved can cover, these defects are entirely overcomeand a device provided whereby the air is permitted to escape from thecan as the cover is inserted therein. After the cover has been placed inposition, the movable plate 10 is locked thereon as previously describedto close the vent opening and prevent the entrance of dirt or otherforeign material into the can. The can cover is also provided with theusual handle 19 whereby it may be readily lifted or placed in the openend of the can to close the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation ofmy device will be readily understood. It is simple, durable, and highlyefficient for the purpose in View. Owing to its extreme simplicity itwill further be obvious that the device can be manufactured at a verylow cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction andarrangement of the various parts, it will be understood that the deviceis susceptible of considerable modification without departing from theessential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. Thecombination with a can, of a cover having an annular depending flange tofit into the top of the can and an outwardly and upwardly flared annularflange, the top of the cover having a vent opening therein, a platepivoted at one end upon the cover and extending upon said flared annularflange, stops to limit the pivotal movement of said plate in eitherdirection, and means engaged with said flared flange and the plate whenthe latter is disposed over the opening in the can top, to lock saidplate against movement.

2. The combination with a can, of a cover having a depending flange tofit into the open end of the can, said cover also having an outwardlyand upwardly flared annular flange, the top of the cover having a ventopening therein, a plate movable upon the cover adapted to be disposedover said opening to close the same, the free end of said plate engagingupon the flared flange of the cover, said flange having an openingtherein said plate being also provided with an opening to register withthe opening in said flange when the plate is disposed over the ventopening of the cover, and means engaging in said registering openings tolook the plate in its closed position.

3. The combination with a can, of a cover therefor havlng an annulardependlng flange to fit into the top of the can and an upwardly andoutwardly flared annular flange, the top of the cover having an openingtherein, a plate eecentrically pivoted at one of its ends upon saidcover and movable over said opening to close the same, the other end ofsaid plate extending upon said flared annular flange, stops arranged onsaid flange to limit the movement of said plate, the extremity of theplate engaging over the edge of the flange, said plate and flange eachhaving an opening therein adapted to register when the plate is in itsclosed position to receive a suitable locking elemen In testimonywhereof I hereunto aflix my Witnesses:

E. N. STEELE, L. A. STEELE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing' the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

